Mine clearance system

ABSTRACT

Described is a mine clearance system ( 10 ) comprising a mine clearance vehicle ( 12 ), at the front side of which there is a frontal attachment with a milling roller ( 26 ), the frontal attachment being pivotable about a horizontal axis ( 40 ). A tail attachment forming a mine-seeking apparatus can be provided on the mine clearance vehicle ( 12 ), or a specific mine-seeking vehicle ( 14 ) with such a tail attachment can be arranged after the mine clearance vehicle ( 12 ). That tail attachment or the mine-seeking vehicle ( 14 ) has a second milling roller ( 44 ) which is disposed pivotably about a horizontal axis in order to be able to adjust as desired the height or the depth of penetration into the ground of the second milling roller. A conveyor and sifting device ( 58 ) is arranged after the second milling roller ( 44 ).

[0001] The invention concerns a mine clearance system as set forth in the classifying portion of claim 1.

[0002] DE 42 30 769 C2 discloses a mine clearance arrangement which is in the form of a front-mounting apparatus for vehicles, in particular armoured vehicles, for clearing land mines. That known mine clearance arrangement has clearance shield elements with excavating or digging teeth which are arranged adjustably on a mounting frame on a line inclinedly relative to the direction of travel. Each clearance shield element comprises a concavely curved upper portion and is extended by the excavating or digging teeth for the clearance depth. Each clearance shield element can be guided on the ground by way of associated sliding surfaces. The individual upper portions are held on the mounting frame adjustably individually transversely with respect to the direction of travel by way of horizontal pivot axes and can be automatically guided on the ground by way of associated sliding surfaces. The sliding surfaces are connected to the upper portions by way of inclined portions which are disposed in front thereof in the direction of travel. The upper portions carry the excavating or digging teeth and/or the clearance teeth for displacement of the upper portions of the clearance shield elements.

[0003] DE 44 41 075 C1 discloses a mine clearance vehicle with a frontal attachment which is connected to the vehicle in such a way that it can be raised and lowered, by way of hydraulically or pneumatically operating piston-cylinder arrangements and possibly by way of frame limbs pivotably mounted to the vehicle. The frontal attachment is equipped with a casing which is at least partially open in the direction of travel forwardly and downwardly, with a milling or cutting drum which is arranged therein substantially transversely with respect to the direction of travel and which is preferably hydraulically driven in rotation and which rotates in opposite relationship to the direction of travel and conveys the respective mine to be cleared, to a position in front of the drum, and there causes it to explode by application of pressure thereto. For the selection of magnetic materials, the frontal attachment is of such a design configuration that a magnet or a magnet arrangement is disposed in front of the milling or cutting drum for picking up magnetic pieces.

[0004] DE 44 42 153 C1 discloses a clearance apparatus for mines, grenades and other explosive bodies which are disposed in or on the ground. That clearance apparatus has elements which rotate in opposite relationship to the direction of forward travel and it is in the form of a front-mounting apparatus for a vehicle, in particular for an armoured vehicle. In that known clearance apparatus the rotating elements are in the form of disc bodies which have cutting or saw elements at least at the outer periphery. The arrangement has a plurality of disc bodies which are oriented vertically and arranged in side-by-side relationship.

[0005] All the above-described clearance apparatuses and arrangements and vehicles are in the form of front-mounting apparatuses or vehicles with a frontal attachment. However the clearance certainty level of clearance arrangements of that kind can leave something to be desired, that is to say, the clearance certainty level required by the United Nations of at least 99.6% in the case of humanitarian mine clearance procedures still cannot be reliably attained by those known arrangements.

[0006] DE 94 06 207 U1 discloses an apparatus for seeking mines which are laid on or in the ground, wherein an apparatus towed by a tractor vehicle has a horizontally mounted roller which is drivable by a drive motor in the opposite direction to the towing direction. Mounted on the roller are tools which are such that earth material in front of the roller, down to its predetermined depth, is conveyed upwardly and rearwardly onto a sifting and/or conveyor apparatus which moves along behind the roller, the sifting and/or conveyor apparatus being so designed that the earth material drops therethrough.

[0007] The object of the present invention isthat of providing a mine clearance system of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, with which the requirement set by the United Nations for a clearance certainty level of at least 99.6% is reliably met.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, in a mine clearance system of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, that object is attained by the features of the characterising portion of claim 1. Preferred embodiments and developments of the mine clearance system according to the invention are characterised in the appendant claims.

[0009] The mine clearance system according to the invention has the advantage that economic clearance of relatively large minefields can be effected within the context of humanitarian clearance, in a timesaving manner, that is to say quickly, wherein the frontal attachment of the mine clearance vehicle, with the milling roller, causes destruction of mines to be cleared, and the mine-seeking apparatus provides for seeking of or destruction of mines which are not caught by the frontal attachment. Items which are larger than an order of magnitude of 5 cm are transported by means of the conveyor device of the mine-seeking apparatus to a sifting device.

[0010] The mine clearance vehicle or the mine-seeking vehicle may be a modified Leopard tank, that is to say the chassis of a Leo 1 A4, in which the transmission unit, the ABC-installation, the munitions bunker, the track aprons or guard plates and the like are removed for weight reduction purposes. In order to achieve the above-indicated clearance safety level, the clearance speed, that is to say the speed of travel of such a modified Leo 1 A4 may not be higher than 30 m/min, preferably between 8 and 16 m/min. That can be achieved if a step-down transmission is fitted to the existing cross-shaft unit of the Leo 1 A4. With a diesel-hydraulic drive of that kind, two oil motors are used as drive motors, wherein the oil pump is driven by way of a pump distributor gear unit and an intermediate coupling means by the motor of the Leo 1 A4 at a constant motor speed of for example 1600 min⁻¹.

[0011] As the mine clearance system according to the invention is intended and provided for the clearance of defensive mines and also so-called jumping mines and for the clearance of tank mines, the respective armoured vehicle must be absolutely safe for the operator. For that purpose the driving cabin of the respective armoured vehicle is mounted on shock-absorbing damper elements. To afford protection from jumping mines the driving cabin itself is made from a suitable armour steel in its front region. The viewing windows preferably comprise armoured glass and may additionally be covered with protective panels or shutters. The bottom region of the undercarriage and/or the inner region of the shell structure of the vehicle preferably have additional armouring. Thus the bottom region of the undercarriage may be reinforced with armour steel to afford protection from possible hollow-charge mines. Additional bulkhead means may be provided in the internal region of the shell structure of the vehicle. They may comprise polyethylene plates.

[0012] In order to be able to carry the weight of the corresponding milling roller, the tread rollers of the vehicle and/or the support arms on which the corresponding milling roller is disposed in such a way that it can be raised and lowered are provided with a reinforcement. For that purpose the rubber covers on the tread rollers can be replaced by coating means of Vulkolan and/or the front support arms can be supported by additional hydraulic shock absorbers.

[0013] The mine clearance system according to the invention provides that the destruction of mines is effected by the first milling roller engaging into the ground with the mines being simultaneously triggered or cut up by the cutting bit elements or roller teeth which project radially away from the corresponding milling roller. The depth of engagement is desirably up to 40 cm. The cutting bit elements which are arranged in a helical configuration in one or more pitch flights at the milling roller peripheral surface are arranged in dependence on the roller geometry, the roller speed, the advance or travel speed and the nature or type of ground. The corresponding milling roller is connected to the associated armoured vehicle in such a way that it can be raised and lowered by means of a carrier arm structure. For reasons of weight that carrier arm structure preferably comprises hollow profile elements of suitable mechanical strength. The carrier arm structure can be pivotable, that is to say raised and lowered, about a pivot axis, by means of hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangements. Adjustment and control in respect of height of the respective milling roller can be implemented electrohydraulically. Preferably disposed between the respective milling roller and the associated undercarriage of the armoured vehicle is a thick-wall barrier which upon detonation in particular of tank mines reliably prevents damage to the hydraulic installation or feed lines and damage to the vehicle chassis and the tracks of the armoured vehicle.

[0014] The structural configuration of the milling roller, the arrangement of the bit elements, the geometrical shape of the bit elements, the diameter of the respective milling roller, the spiral angle of the bit elements and the roller speed crucially determine the clearance probability, that is to say the clearance certainty level.

[0015] A further quite considerable advantage of the mine clearance system according to the invention is that ground cultivation is involved in the mine clearance procedure by means of the mine-seeking vehicle or mine-seeking apparatus. The ground is correspondingly loosened up being worked with the first and second milling rollers so that after the mine clearance work has been carried out, it is possible to build on the land or to re-afforest it. In addition the mine clearance system according to the invention is designed in such a way that the front attachment or the mine-seeking apparatus of the first armoured vehicle or the mine-seeking apparatus of the second modified armoured vehicle which is independent of the first modified armoured vehicle can be removed in order thereafter to be able to transport the individual components even over bridges of correspondingly reduced load-bearing capability. That is an aspect of significance in particular for Third World countries.

[0016] Further details, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a mine clearance system according to the invention which is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the mine clearance system,

[0018]FIG. 2 is a side view of substantial parts of a modified armoured vehicle of the mine clearance system shown in FIG. 1, and

[0019]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a drive unit.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 shown therein as a side view is a mine clearance system 10 with a mine clearance vehicle 12 and a mine-seeking vehicle 14. The mine clearance vehicle 12 and the mine-seeking vehicle 14 are each formed by a respective modified armoured or tank vehicle 16, as is also clearly shown in FIG. 2. In the case of the respective armoured or tank vehicle 16, the tank turret is replaced by a driving cabin 18. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the driving cabin 18 is supported on shock-absorbing damping elements 20. FIG. 2 also clearly shows that the bottom region of the undercarriage has additional armouring 22 and that the inner region of the shell structure of the vehicle 16 has additional armouring 24.

[0021] Provided at the, front end of the mine clearance vehicle 12 is a milling roller 26. The milling roller 26 is provided with cutting bit elements 28 which project radially away from the peripheral surface 30 of the milling roller 26. The milling roller 26 is drivable about a horizontal axis 34 in a shielding housing 32 in the opposite direction to the direction of travel, as is indicated by the arrow 36. The milling roller 26 with the associated housing 32 is held on two lateral carrier arms 38 which are temporarily fixed to the mine clearance vehicle 12, which are pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis 40 and which are thus pivotable in respect of height or for setting a desired depth of penetration into the ground. The drive for the milling roller 26 and the pivotable drive for the carrier arms 38 are afforded by means of a drive device 42 which is provided in the tail region of the mine clearance vehicle 12.

[0022] The mine-seeking vehicle 14 is formed by a modified armoured or tank vehicle 16 which is similar to the mine clearance vehicle 12 and which is releasably combined with a second milling roller 44 which is disposed pivotably about a horizontal axis, as indicated by the arcuate double-headed arrow 46. The second milling roller 44 is combined with a shielding housing 48 and, like the first milling roller 26, it has cutting bit elements 50 which project radially away from the peripheral surface 52 of the second milling roller 44. A conveyor and sifting device 56 is arranged downstream of the second milling roller 44 which, like the first milling roller 26, is driven in opposite relationship to the direction of travel, as is indicated by the arrow 54.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a greatly simplified view of the drive unit 58 of the mine clearance vehicle 12. The drive motor 60 is drivingly connected by the drive output or motor shaft 62 to a coupling means 64. The pump distributor gear unit 66 is connected to the coupling means 64. The pump distributor gear unit 66 and the coupling means 64 are enclosed by way of a transition ring 68 which is in the form of a bell housing. The pump distributor gear unit 66 drives oil pumps 70, of which a first is used for the left-hand travel drive 72, a second for a cooler or radiator 74, a third for a reserve 76 and the fourth for the right-hand travel drive 72 of the mine clearance vehicle 12.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3 the drive unit 58 includes a second drive motor 78 which in this example is provided for the drive for the milling rollers 26. The drive motors 60 and 78 are arranged vertically one above the other in the mine clearance vehicle 12. It is however expressly emphasised that the arrangement of two drive motors 60 and 78 is one possible way of driving different items of equipment. All devices such as milling rollers, travel drive, cooler or radiator and the like may also be operated by a single drive motor or engine 60 if that drive motor or engine 60 is suitably provided with coupling means and pump distributor gear unit.

[0025] From the second drive motor 78 an output drive shaft 80 goes to the coupling means 82 which is in turn connected to the pump distributor gear unit 84. The pump distributor gear unit 84 drives by way of suitable oil pumps the milling rollers 26 of which two are used as right-hand milling rollers and two are used as left-hand milling rollers.

[0026] Travel speeds of down to 0.72 m/min can be achieved with the drive unit 58. That low travel speed which is not possible with the usual drives of a combat tank, together with corresponding working speeds in respect of the milling rollers 26, guarantees optimum mine clearance. The working speeds of the milling rollers 26 are between 14 and 30 m/min. 

1. A mine clearance system comprising a mine clearance vehicle (12), at the front end of which a frontal attachment having a milling roller (26) is disposed pivotably about a horizontal axis (40), characterised in that a tail attachment forming a mine-seeking apparatus is provided on the mine clearance vehicle (12) which is provided with the frontal attachment or a specific mine-seeking vehicle (14) is arranged after the mine clearance vehicle (12), wherein the mine-seeking apparatus or the mine-seeking vehicle (14) has a second milling roller (44) which is disposed pivotably about a horizontal axis, and a conveyor and sifting device (56) is arranged after the second milling roller (44).
 2. A mine clearance system according to claim 1 characterised in that the first and/or the second milling roller (26, 44) is provided with radially projecting cutting bit elements (28, 50) which are arranged in a helical configuration in one or more pitch flights on the milling roller peripheral surface (30, 52).
 3. A mine clearance system according to claim 1 characterised in that the mine clearance vehicle (12) and/or the mine-seeking vehicle (14) is formed by a modified armoured or tank vehicle (16), the turret of which is replaced by a driving cabin (18).
 4. A mine clearance system according to claim 3 characterised in that the driving cabin (18) is supported on shock-absorbing damping elements (20).
 5. A mine clearance system according to claim 4 characterised in that a respective damping element (20) is provided at the bottom in each of the four corners of the driving cabin (20) which is of rectangular cross-section.
 6. A mine clearance system according to claim 3 characterised in that a step-down transmission is fitted to the cross-shaft unit of the armoured vehicle (16) at least for the travel drive, wherein oil motors are used and the oil pump is driven by way of a pump distributor gear unit and an intermediate coupling means by the drive motor of the armoured vehicle (16).
 7. A mine clearance system according to claim 3 or claim 6 characterised in that there is provided a second drive motor which acts by way of a coupling means on a second pump distributor gear unit connected to oil pumps which respectively drive milling rollers.
 8. A mine clearance system according to claim 7 characterised in that the two drive motors are arranged in vertically superposed relationship.
 9. A mine clearance system according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised in that the oil motors are respectively connected in series.
 10. A mine clearance system according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised in that the oil motors are connected in pairs in series.
 11. A mine clearance system according to one of claims 6 to 10 characterised in that the coupling means after the drive motor is provided at the input side with a flywheel and at the output side to the pump distributor gear unit has a transition ring.
 12. A mine clearance system according to claim 3 characterised in that the bottom region of the undercarriage and/or the inner region of the shell structure have additional armouring (22, 24).
 13. A mine clearance system according to one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the first milling roller (26) and/or the second milling roller (44) with the associated conveyor and sifting device (56) are temporarily fixed to the associated or the respectively associated vehicle (16). 